Page 9 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

Zora backed away from the wall, wondering what would happen next. Would she die and never get to tell Dravek how she felt about him? If she made it out of this alive, she’d remedy that immediately.

She plopped down in the center of the room. “Come here, Sprig. Let’s see if we can fix you up.”

SIX

With pep in his step, Dravek entered the grand hall for breakfast, looking for the one woman who never left his dreams last night. Or the night before.

When his eyes scanned the room and didn’t find his beauty, he couldn’t help the frown that formed.

Raelee sidled up to him. “Let me guess,” she said, “the person you wanted to see isn’t here.”

He instantly straightened and the stoic mask returned to its place. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His sister-in-law rolled her eyes. “Men,” she huffed as she stepped away.

“Wait,” Dravek called out, catching her arm. “Zora will be here, yes?”

“No.” Her brows drew down as if she was confused. “She’s going somewhere for the day.”

Alarm prickled in his mind. “She didn’t mention it,” he replied. “Where is she going?”

“Never heard of the place. Something like Shadow Lands.”

He nearly choked. “Shadowed Highlands?”

“Yeah, that’s it. Said she’d be back before dark.”

He spun on his heel and headed directly for her lab, Hopefully, he’d catch her before she left. If not, it was possible he’d never see her again.

Barging through the lab door, he entered the room like a storm. “Zora,” he called out. No response.

On the desk, out of place among the neatly arranged reports and data pads, lay a book. Dravek frowned, approaching the desk with curiosity. The book was so old, he couldn’t believe it existed.

As he drew closer, he noticed the book was brittle and a piece of thin material protruded from its pages like a misplaced bookmark.

An inexplicable tension crept into Dravek’s shoulders as he opened it, revealing a neatly folded parchment.

Upon flattening out the sheet, he realized it was an ancient drawing of some kind. The language wasn’t Tharvisian, but it was similar enough for him to figure out he was looking at a hand-drawn image of the Shadowed Highlands, as inaccurate as it was.

A mixture of emotions flashed through Dravek– surprise, irritation, and, most unexpectedly, a hint of pride. The area was notorious for its dangers and strictly off-limits without royal authorization.

“What is she thinking?” Dravek muttered to himself. The Shadowed Highlands were no place for an impromptu expedition especially for someone unfamiliar with Tharvisian terrain. The landscape was treacherous with unpredictable weather patterns and rumors of hostile entities lurking in its mist-shrouded valleys.

As the prince of Tharvis and a military commander, ensuring the safety of guests and allies fell squarely within his purview. Zora’s actions could lead to serious diplomatic complications if something were to happen to her.

The rational part of Dravek’s mind immediately began calculating the potential political fallout, the necessary search and rescue protocols, and the reports that would need to be filed.

Annoyance gave way to a deeper, more personal concern. Unbidden memories of past interactions with Zora rose to the surface.

He recalled a royal banquet where Zora had cornered him, her eyes alight with excitement as she described a rare plant she had discovered in the palace gardens. Her enthusiasm had been infectious, and Dravek had found himself genuinely interested, asking questions that led to a discussion that lasted far longer than he had intended.

Another memory surfaced – a chance encounter in the gardens. He had been taking a rare moment of solitude, walking among the exotic flora when he had come across Zora. She had been so engrossed in sketching a particularly vibrant flower that she hadn’t noticed his approach.

Dravek remembered pausing, struck by the look of intense concentration on her face, the way the sunlight had caught in her auburn hair. He had retreated quietly, unwilling to disturb her work, but the image had stayed with him.

Then there was the day in the library. They had reached for the same book, their hands brushing briefly. Dravek could still recall the jolt of electricity that had run through him at the contact, the way Zora’s cheeks had flushed as she quickly apologized. He had insisted she take the book, ignoring the strange flutter in his chest as she smiled gratefully at him.

Each memory was tinged with unspoken feelings, a connection he had carefully kept hidden behind his stoic facade. Dravek shook his head as if trying to physically dislodge these thoughts.

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